One of the biggest events taking place this weekend in the NFL involved a non-playoff contender as the Green Bay Packers fired Head Coach Mike McCarthy (pictured left) following a 20-17 loss at home to the Arizona Cardinals. Joe Philbin was named the interim Head Coach for the remaining four games this season.Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez drilled a 44-yard field goal with just two minutes to play to provide the difference. Packers kicker Mason Crosby missed a 49-yard field goal attempt as time ran out that could have forced overtime. Green Bay dropped to 4-7-1 with the defeat.
The best game of Week Thirteen took place in the Sunday night game as the Los Angeles Chargers (9-3) rallied from a 16-point halftime deficit (23-7) to stun the host Pittsburgh Steelers, 33-30 as kicker Michael Badgley made a 29-yard field goal as time expired.
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| The Chargers celebrate their huge comeback win over the Steelers on Sunday night. |
But the second half was all Chargers as the defense stymied the Steelers offense and quarterback Philip Rivers (299 passing yards and two TD passes) hooked up with WR Keenan Allen (14 receptions for 148 yards) for a scoring pass while Desmond King took a punt back 73 yards for another score and finally, rookie RB Justin Jackson came off the bench to score the go ahead touchdown on an 18-yard run midway through the fourth quarter.
The Los Angeles Rams (11-1) clinched the NFC West title and a playoff spot with a 30-16 road win against the Detroit Lions as RB Todd Gurley (132 yards rushing) scored two touchdowns and the defense had four QB sacks.
The Kansas City Chiefs (10-2), who cut their top running back Kareem Hunt this weekend after a video surfaced showing him physically abusing a woman during the off-season, went to Oakland and topped the Raiders, 40-33. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes threw four TD passes, giving him 41 through 12 games this season.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (12 receptions, 168 yards) hauled in a pair of TD passes from Mahomes. Raiders QB Derek Carr had three TD passes in defeat.
The New England Patriots (9-3) methodically beat the visiting Minnesota Vikings, 24-10 behind a pair of rushing touchdowns by James Develin and a defensive effort that limited the Vikings to 278 total yards in offense, including getting two interceptions. Minnesota slipped to 6-5-1 with the loss.
The New York Giants surprised the Chicago Bears, 30-27 in overtime as Aldrick Rosas made a 44-yard field goal and then the defense stopped the Bears (8-4) to preserve the win.
Chicago stormed back with ten points in the last two minutes, including a one-yard scoring pass on the option from RB Tarik Cohen to WR Anthony Miller as time expired in regulation. Earlier in the game, the Giants (4-8) got a 49-yard TD pass from wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. to WR Russell Shepard to take a 17-14 lead. Giants rookie running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 125 yards (24 carries) to help aid the victory.
Last Thursday night, the Dallas Cowboys (7-5) stunned the New Orleans Saints, 13-10, holding the NFL's top offense to only 176 total yards in offense. Dallas RB Ezekiel Elliott caught a TD pass from QB Dak Prescott for their only score while kicker Brett Maher drilled two field goals. The loss snapped the Saints (10-2) winning streak at ten games and dropped them into the number two spot in the NFC playoff race.
Elsewhere Around the NFL . . . . . .
The Baltimore Ravens (7-5) beat the host Atlanta Falcons, 26-16 behind a defensive effort that held the Falcons to a paltry 131 yards in offense and also had a touchdown off a fumble recovery. Baltimore rushed for 207 yards with QB Lamar Jackson (75 yards) scoring on a 13-yard run . . . The Tennessee Titans (6-6) kept their playoff hopes alive with a 26-22 home victory against the New York Jets as QB Marcus Mariota hooked up with WR Corey Davis on an 11-yard scoring pass with only 36 seconds remaining . . . The Seattle Seahawks (7-5) throttled the visiting San Francisco 49ers, 43-16 as the defense forced three turnovers and QB Russell Wilson, the Heftyinfo NFL Player of the Week, threw four scoring passes . . . The Tampa Bay Buccaneers knocked off the Carolina Panthers, 24-17, sending them to their fourth straight loss (Carolina is 6-6) as QB Jameis Winston had two TD passes and the defense intercepted Cam Newton four times . . . The Houston Texans (9-3) won their ninth straight game, 29-13 over the visiting Cleveland Browns as they intercepted Browns rookie QB Baker Mayfield three times, which included a "pick six" INT return for score . . . The Denver Broncos (6-6) won their third consecutive game, 24-10 over the host Cincinnati Bengals behind rookie RB Phillip Lindsay (157 yards rushing), who had two scoring runs to lead the way . . . The Miami Dolphins (6-6) topped the visiting Buffalo Bills, 21-17 as QB Ryan Tannehill had three TD passes . . . The Jacksonville Jaguars won a home game, 6-0 against the Indianapolis Colts (6-6), snapping their seven game losing streak as kicker Josh Lambo made two field goals and the defense getting three QB sacks and forcing two turnovers . . . The Philadelphia Eagles (6-6) pulled away in the final quarter to defeat the visiting Washington Redskins, 28-13 on Monday Night Football. Eagles QB Carson Wentz had 306 passing yards and two TD tosses in the win while the Eagles defense held the Redskins (6-6) to just 235 total yards in offense.
WEEK THIRTEEN RESULTS
Dallas 13, New Orleans 10
NY Giants 30, Chicago 27 (OT)
Baltimore 26, Atlanta 16
Tampa Bay 24, Carolina 17
LA Rams 30, Detroit 16
Miami 21, Buffalo 17
Arizona 20, Green Bay 17
Jacksonville 6, Indianapolis 0
Houston 29, Cleveland 13
Denver 24, Cincinnati 10
Tennessee 26, NY Jets 22
New England 24, Minnesota 10
Kansas City 40, Oakland 33
Seattle 43, San Francisco 16
LA Chargers 33, Pittsburgh 30
Philadelphia 28, Washington 13
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